FED-UP families will finally be able to tell judges and magistrates how crime blights their lives.

Previously only victims or the families of murder victims have been able to write directly to judges to say how they have been affected.

But a pilot scheme in Handsworth and Lozells is trialling the use of community impact statements, which aim to give residents in the whole area a chance to pass on their thoughts to judges sentencing offenders.

Under the initiative, the views of residents and businesses will be collected through regular meetings police have with the public.

The statement will be presented to the courts so magistrates and judges have the full picture of what it is like to live and work in the area, and can consider the impact of the offence when determining an offender’s sentence.

Insp Paul Deathridge, who is working on the Handsworth pilot, said: “Community impact statements will ensure community concerns and priorities are not only listened to but are driven throughout the judicial system. They will provide residents with another chance to contribute to community safety in a meaningful way.”

The Handsworth and Lozells pilot is one of 12 taking place nationally and is expected to last for a year.